At Face Value

The nutritional beauty market will post a compound annual growth rate of 6% to hit $86 million by 2016, according to market research firm Packaged Facts, Rockville, MD. Both consumer demand and product innovation will fuel this growth.

Industry insiders agree that the best beauty program works from the inside out as well as the outside in. More and more personal care companies are supplementing beauty regimens with nutraceutical pills and powders alongside recommending a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables and proteins.

Joanna Vargas, celebrity facialist and founder of Joanna Vargas Salon in New York City, took time to talk about the latest and greatest trends by way of beauty from the inside out. Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz, Mandy Moore, Karlie Kloss, Shalom Harlow, Elettra Wiedemann, Sofia Coppola and Zac Posen are just a few famous faces who look to Ms. Vargas for radiant skin and travel the globe for her signature treatments.

Beauty I/O: What are the hottest ingredients in beauty supplements right now and why?

Ms. Vargas: The hottest trend in 2013 will be a bigger use for the amazing galactoarabinan. It is the super ingredient in all my products and clinical tests show that it increases collagen production, helps elasticity and at the same time is an anti-inflammatory. You can’t beat that multi-tasking!

The trend right now is to source things like antioxidants and other classic skin care ingredients with traditional healing ingredients. I included sweet potatoes in my new Revitalizing Eye Cream because it’s great for de-puffing the eyes in a natural way. Traditional Chinese Medicine uses the sweet potato for increasing energy and the immune system. I love that idea of bringing the old ways into the modern world.

Beauty I/O: What are some skin care concerns you are seeing at your business and how do beauty supplements play a role in solving these issues?  

Ms. Vargas: I usually recommend dietary changes like incorporating green juices. People come in with breakouts, which diet plays a big role in. Also, when a woman simply comes in looking for a glow in her face again, I can say that green juices play a big role in that as well. Dry, thin skin also gets a benefit because it’s hard to keep hydration in the skin when you have this particular skin type. Eating avocado, drinking green juices and adding more flax to your diet all hydrate from the inside out.
 
Beauty I/O: What are the most desirable forms of beauty supplementation (pills, powders, etc.) right now and why?

Ms. Vargas: Food as supplements for beauty like green juice and things like avocado, flax and olive oil are popular for hydration and anti-aging. I think people realize that food can be medicinal in many ways.

The digestive system and the lymphatic system are both responsible for how your skin looks. Breakouts, dryness, dullness and skin irritation are all related to what we eat, how we digest and how well our lymphatic system is supplying nutrients to the skin cells.
Eating proper meals with good ingredients like salads with avocado and flax oil are great ways to get beautiful skin fast.
 
Beauty I/O: What are the future trends in beauty supplements we should look out for in 2014 and beyond?

Ms. Vargas: Antioxidant teas will become more popular for sure. A lot of clients have gotten their diets on track and anyone who is having a hard time I always turn them on to Dr. Frank Lipman’s Recharge shake (combining whey protein with organic greens and red and blue berries) because it’s great nutrition very easily done for you.

Sipping on an oolong tea to encourage good digestion, or drinking green tea throughout the day is underrated and people will be adding that into their routine more and more.

For more information: www.joannavargas.com